Take your pick between desperation, malevolence and the type of pangs that
might overcome an unhappy man who sees an old flame in a loveless marriage
with an old adversary.

Whatever is behind it, there has been plenty of chatter among European
football’s movers and shakers lately about the idea of José Mourinho seeking
a reunion with Chelsea.

The whispers began almost as soon as Rafael Benítez arrived at Stamford Bridge
in late November. True, the timing also coincided with anticipation of
rejection by Pep Guardiola, who chose Bayern Munich, and with the
unravelling of Mourinho’s authority at Real Madrid,